Comments on: Ebbin Proposes Extended Polling Hours http://www.arlnow.com/2013/01/10/ebbin-proposes-extended-polling-hours/ News, Weather, Traffic, Events and Reviews in Arlington, Virginia Sat, 18 May 2013 23:13:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: BlueLoom http://www.arlnow.com/2013/01/10/ebbin-proposes-extended-polling-hours/#comment-294609 BlueLoom Fri, 11 Jan 2013 11:27:59 +0000 https://www.arlnow.com:443/?p=62953#comment-294609 +1

I used to be a poll worker (“used to be” is the operative phrase). We have to report at 5:00 a.m. to set up the machines and go thru the formalities of being sworn it. Polls open at 6:00. Once we’ve been sworn in, we cannot leave the premises. Polls close at 7:00, but anyone in line at 7:00 may still vote. We put a poll-worker at the end of the line at 7:00. Everyone in front of that person may vote. That could be up to another hour (in presidential years). Then we have to tally all the machines and work our way thru a mountain of paperwork. If a machine breaks down and doesn’t give us a tally, we have to wait at the polling station for “central” to send us a technician. It could be another hour or more. After the tally is complete, we have to put away the machines and sign (each of us, on every envelope) the collected papers. In a presidential year, we’re lucky to get out by 10:00 or 11:00. And remember, we got up that morning at 4:00. Yes, we get paid–$150, the last time I volunteered. I doubt that I would do it again if the pay were raised to $500. There are other ways I can serve my country and my county that don’t leave me destroyed for 3 or 4 days.

(1) More machines
(2) Easy early voting (this year was pretty good–you didn’t have to go to the courthouse)
(3) Split shifts for poll workers

]]> By: Max http://www.arlnow.com/2013/01/10/ebbin-proposes-extended-polling-hours/#comment-294524 Max Fri, 11 Jan 2013 05:20:59 +0000 https://www.arlnow.com:443/?p=62953#comment-294524 The problem is that to vote absentee, you have to provide a reason that will be unable to vote during voting hours. In Arlington this isn’t a problem as we are a physically tiny county. For other people in Virginia, their job could be an hour away and still be in the same county, and their polling location could be 15 minutes away in the opposite direction.

]]> By: Concerned citizen http://www.arlnow.com/2013/01/10/ebbin-proposes-extended-polling-hours/#comment-294514 Concerned citizen Fri, 11 Jan 2013 04:29:12 +0000 https://www.arlnow.com:443/?p=62953#comment-294514 I agree with the people above. At the previous election, I empathized with the poor people standing for hours. If a few more privacy screens (made of cardboard) were bought, as well as setting up a couple more tables, people could vote the paper ballots and decrease wait times by 1/3.

On a separate note, if people are “stuck in traffic” after work or have a work emergency that prevents them from voting, they probably aren’t working in Arlington and need to be encouraged to vote absentee. An extra hour is not going to help much.

The election officers are working the whole day (required by law to stay the whole day) – one more hour on their part could lead to mistakes in totaling votes at the end of the day.

I think extra election officers & privacy screens at presidential elections would be the best way to increase participation at the polls.

]]> By: Brandon http://www.arlnow.com/2013/01/10/ebbin-proposes-extended-polling-hours/#comment-294386 Brandon Thu, 10 Jan 2013 22:22:22 +0000 https://www.arlnow.com:443/?p=62953#comment-294386 There’s an incredible irony in the spectacle of people waiting in ridiculous lines to vote, at least here. They are witnesses to the dumbfounding incompetence and ineffectiveness of their government. Their government can’t even do something as simple and essential as organize an efficient election! And yet what did a majority of the waiting voters, when they finally reached the end of the line, proceed to do? Vote for politicians who pledge to give this same government ever more money and responsibility and power over their lives. As if somehow this will cure it of its incompetence and inefficiency.

]]> By: LEBELE http://www.arlnow.com/2013/01/10/ebbin-proposes-extended-polling-hours/#comment-294330 LEBELE Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:46:08 +0000 https://www.arlnow.com:443/?p=62953#comment-294330 The problem seems to be only in Presidential elections. Extended hours or other fixes ought to apply only to those elections.

]]> By: drax http://www.arlnow.com/2013/01/10/ebbin-proposes-extended-polling-hours/#comment-294239 drax Thu, 10 Jan 2013 20:56:53 +0000 https://www.arlnow.com:443/?p=62953#comment-294239 Your “basis” covered? Better cover your bases.

]]> By: drax http://www.arlnow.com/2013/01/10/ebbin-proposes-extended-polling-hours/#comment-294238 drax Thu, 10 Jan 2013 20:56:31 +0000 https://www.arlnow.com:443/?p=62953#comment-294238 Why are you yammering about the ACDC? I’m not the ACDC. I urge you to vote for a Republican or anyone else on the ballot if you like them.

]]> By: Mary-Austin http://www.arlnow.com/2013/01/10/ebbin-proposes-extended-polling-hours/#comment-294220 Mary-Austin Thu, 10 Jan 2013 20:44:39 +0000 https://www.arlnow.com:443/?p=62953#comment-294220 I worked at the polls for absentee voting and I was amazed at the number of people who could not wrap their brain around the absentee voting concept.
“If you are going to be ANYWHERE outside Arlington at ANY point on election day you can vote absentee”
I guess it’s true some people just can’t take a hint.

]]> By: ACDC Hack http://www.arlnow.com/2013/01/10/ebbin-proposes-extended-polling-hours/#comment-294148 ACDC Hack Thu, 10 Jan 2013 19:51:58 +0000 https://www.arlnow.com:443/?p=62953#comment-294148 “Maybe people who waste their vote on a write-in are the problem.”

Speaks volumes about the ACDC’s attitudes towards the electorate….
And folks think that you guys act like you are entitled !!

]]> By: Buckingham Bandit http://www.arlnow.com/2013/01/10/ebbin-proposes-extended-polling-hours/#comment-294053 Buckingham Bandit Thu, 10 Jan 2013 19:08:04 +0000 https://www.arlnow.com:443/?p=62953#comment-294053 That’s what I did. The poll worker all but said I could put down nearly any reason at all.

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